Power set-works for sawmill-carriages.



Patented Oct. 2, I900.

F. BILLINGS &.:-*C. S.v PRESCOTT? POWER SET WORKS FOR SAWMILL GABBIAG ES.

" (Application filed Apr. 14; 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented Oct. 2, I900..-

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ll 7 {m ff No. 6.59,I24.

F. BILLINGS 8|. 0. S. PRESCOTT. POWER SET WORKS FOB SAWMILL GARRIAGES.

. (Ap alicsutimq filerk'Apr. 14, 1899;) .(N0 Mqdel.)

UNi'rEi STATES PATENT Fries.

FREDRIO BILLINGS AND CLAY SEARLE PRESCOTT, OF MARINETTE, WISCON- SIN, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO HENRY O. HIGGINS, OF SAME PLACE.

POWER SET-WORKS FOR SAWMILL-CARRIAGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,124, dated October 2, 1900. Application filed April 14, 1899 Serial No. 713,001. (No modeLl T 1071-01711 it l/ COW/087%: and from the outside of the bore of the cylin- Be it known that we, FREDRIC BILLINGS der to the central hub F. and CLAY SEARLE PRESCOTT, citizens of the H is a cylinder-head consisting of a plate United Sta-tes, residing at Marinette, in the inserted longitudinally and radially in the county of Marinette and State of Wisconsin, cylinder, the plate being securely fastened to 55 have invented certain new and useful Imthe back of cylinder B, the bonnet B, and provements in Power Set-Works for Sawmilloutside of cylinder-bore. This cylinder-head Carriages; and we do hereby declare the folis provided with a strip of packing at the top, lowing to be a full, clear, and exact descripwhich extends the full width of the cylinder I0 tion of the invention, such as willenable othand is forced upward by spring or steam 6o ers skilled in the art to which it appertainsagainst the central hub F, thus securing a to make and use the same. steam-tight joint.

Our invention relates to improvements in I I are steam-ports leading from the cylindeviees designed to control the movement of. der on either side of the cylinder-head H the head-block standards or knees commonlythrough the bonnet B and into the steam- 65 in use on sawmill-carriages when logs are cut chest J, which is formed by the steam-chest into timber of any desired thickness. cover K. The steam-chest is a casting planed Reference is had to the accompanying out so as to receive a square slide-valve L and drawings, wherein the same parts are indiis provided with an opening M on the side for cated by the same letters throughout the sevthe admission of steam and an eXhaust-open- 7o eral views. ing N on the bottom. At the rear end is a Figure 1 represents a front elevation, partly stufling-box to admit the passage of the valvein section, of a set-works embodying our instem 0. This steam-chest is securely bolted vention. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation, to the cylinder-bonnet B. The valve-stem O .partly in section, of the same as seen from is connected bya link P to the throttle-lever the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a detail Q, as seen most clearly in Fig. 1. This lever plan view of the setting-arm and the gageis provided with a latch operated by the disk. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal vertical thumb,which engages in notches cut at stated section of the valve, and Fig. 5 is a central intervals in the guide-bar Q The throttle- 30 longitudinal horizontal section of the valve. lever Q and the guide-bar Q are both pivoted A, as showninthe drawings hereto attached, to the cylinder-bonnet B. representsacylinderhavingaremovablebon- S is a spur-pinion securely keyed to the net B on one or both ends, these bonnets beset shaft S, which shaft is a fixture on all ing extended so as to form stuffing-boxes O, sawmill-carriages. 35 which are threaded on the outside to receive T is an intermediate spur-pinion meshing the nuts D and bored on the inside for the reinto S. 7 ception of the brass gland E. Uis a spur-gear meshing into the interme- F is a central hub passing longitudinally diate pinion T, thus forming a train of gears through the cylinder A and being so formed from the set shaft back to the shaftV, which 40 as to fill a portion of the cylinder and fit shaft passes entirely through the central hub snugly between the bonnet B and the back of F and to which both the hub F and the gear cylinder B. The ends of this central hub F U are securely keyed, making the shaft V, being smaller in diameter pass out of the cylthe gear U, the central hub F, and the piston inder through the stuffing-box O and extend G practically one integral part. 45 as far as the outside of the stuffing-box nut D. W is a dust-proof gear-housing, which ear- 5 G is a square piston securely fastened to ries the boxing W for the shaft V, the boxthe ceptral hub F and forming a part thereof. ing W the shaftthat forms the axis for the This piston is provided with strip-packing pinion T, and the boxing W for the two bearset out by either springs or steam and fits the ings upon the set shaft S. This gear-hous- 5 cylinder from the back B to the bonnet B ing W and the cylinder A are both securely bolted to a base-plate A which in turn is bolted to the carriage-timber Ct, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

X is a worm-gear mounted on and keyed to the set shaft and meshing into the worm Y, which in turn is keyed to the shaft Z. The shaft Z at its upper end passes through the central hub a of the disk A and has a hearing therein. This disk A has its hub a pivoted to a lug O, which is a part or extension of the back of the cylinder, so as to swing in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the shaft Z, so that the said shaft and everything attached thereto may swing in a vertical plane. Around the outer edge of the disk A notches are cut at stated intervals.

D is a ratchetwheel keyed fast to the shaft Z.

If is a pivotal arm swinging loose upon the hubs of the ratchet D and provided with a pawl or dog, which engages the teeth of the ratchet. This lever E in its revolution around the ratchet D is stopped at its extreme upward position by a projection e from the face of the disk A, which projection is fastened to and forms a part of said disk and engages the side of the lever E.

F is a lever swinging loose on the hub of the ratchet D and having a handle which is provided with a hand-latch that fits into the notches cut into the outer edge of the disk A and holds the lever F in a rigid position at anyone of the notches provided. This lever F intercepts the lower part of the handle on the lever E in its travel from its upward position around the disk, stopping it, and thus limiting its travel to any desired number of degrees.

G is a housing for the worm-gear X and the worm Y. It has a box or bearing for the shaft Z at either end of the worm and is provided with a rib or lug along its under side, to which is pivoted the link H. This link H, together with the crank, forms a toggle-leverage, which when thrown into a line of centers with the rocker-shaft J holds the worm and worm-gear locked firmly in mesh. The crank I is keyed to the rocker-shaft J and pivoted to the lower end of the link H. The rockershaft J is boxed firmly to the carriage-timber by boxes K.

L is an arm keyed to the rocker-shaft J and, leading back, is pivoted to the lower end of the rod M, which in turn is pivoted to the hand-lever N. This hand-lever N is pivoted to the back of the cylinder and is provided with a hand-latch, which engages in notches cut in a raised quadrant on the back of the cylinder. So if the lever N is raised from the position shown it will raise the lever L and cause the shaft J to rock, thus causing the crank I to move downward and throw the toggle-levers out of the line of centers. This will pull the worm-housing G back and throw the worm Y out of mesh with the wormwheel. During this movement the housing G is held in a position square with the set shaft by means of the cylindrical extensions 0'. At one end of and at right angles to this plate is a hub which is bored to fit the set shaft and in which the set shaft revolves. These castings O are held firmly against the sides of the housing G by means of the collars P, fastened to the set shaft by means of clamping-screws.

Q is a scale in the form of a disk, which in practice has figures or other indications stamped into its face or otherwise conveniently displayed thereon. It is attached to the shaft V by set-screws and revolves with said shaft, passing under a stationary pointer q, which is bolted to the housing W. The figures on the scale will indicate to the operator the exact distance between the standards and the saw-line and also the number of boards of various thicknesses that are contained in a cant or timber occupying this space. It also shows at all times the relative position of the piston G to the cylinderhead H.

The operation of the machine is as follows: A log being in position upon the carriage, the operator or setter, as he is commonly called, throws the throttle-lever Q to its extreme position forwardthat is, to the right, as seen in Fig. 2thereby causing the slidevalve L to travel to its extreme position to the rear and by so doing allows a full head of steam to enter the cylinder through the left port I in front of the cylinder-head H, allowing all pressure on the forward side to escape to the atmosphere through the valve L and the exhaust-opening N in the valvecase. The pressure admitted to the cylinder back of the cylinder-head H and between it and the piston Gexerts its power to cause the piston G to travel around the inside of the cylinder A until stopped by coming in contact with the forward side of the cylinder head H, which it would do unless otherwise controlled. The power thus exerted is transmitted through the hub F, the shaft V, the gear U, the intermediate pinion T, and the pinion S to the set shaft S, which it endeavors to revolve or turn forward. This revolving or turning of the set shaft is stopped by the worm-gear X, which is keyed fast to the set shaft, engaging the worm Y, the angle of advance of the thread on the worm being so slight that it is impossible for the worm-gear to cause it to turn. The slab having been removed from the log by the saw, the first thing to be accomplished by the set-works is the setting or moving forward of the log until any given number of inches or fraction thereof of the log extends beyond the sawline, thus fixing the thickness of the board, plank, or timber to be sawed. It is understood that a log on a sawmill-carriage is moved forward to and beyond the saw by means of standards or knees, to which the logis securely fastened by means of dogs. These standards slide in grooves in the head-block bases and are fitted on the bottom along their entire length with tooth-racks, which mesh into spur-pinions S",keyed fast to the set shaft, and hence it will be readily seen that the sliding motion of these standards either forward or backward or toward or away from the line of the saw is controlled entirely by the revolving of the set shaft in either direction. This setting forward of the standards and log is accomplished by the operator moving the lever F around the disk A until the latch in the lever-handle engages in the one of the many notches cut in the outer edge ofv the disk A, which is marked to correspond with the thickness of the board,.plank, or timber required. He then pulls the lever E down to the right and around to the left from the permanent stop or its starting-point until the lower partof the handle of the lever E comes in contact with the side of the lever F and is stopped thereby. The lever E being provided with a latch or dog which engages the teeth of the ratchet D, which ratchet is keyed to and forms a part of the shaft Z, carrying the worm Y, it will be seen that when the operator pulls the lever E downward and around the disk A he turns the shaft Z and the worm Y and by so doing allows the set shaft to be rotated by the pressure applied, as described. The distance which the set shaft moves and the speed attained by it is controlled absolutely by the distance which the lever E is moved around the disk A and the speed with which the operator sees fit to move it. The distance traveled by the lever E is limited at all times by the position of the lever F. After having pulled the lever E down to the stoplever F the operator pushes it back to its original position against the permanent stop e at the top of the disk A and is ready to set the next board. The lever E ratchets back from the movable to the fixed stop and in so doing does not move the shaft Z or the worm Y. This operation is repeated each time a cut is made until the log is entirely sawed into lumber, at which time the standards are.

at their extreme position forward, and it then becomes necessaryto recede them far enough from the line of the saw to admit of the loading of another log upon the head-block bases. To accomplish this, the operator throws the throttle-lever Q to its upright or central position and in so doing moves the valve into such a position as to admit steam to the cylinder in equal volume on either side of the piston, thereby looking it in a fixed position. He then raises the lever N from its lowest position, as shown in drawings, to its highest position, where the latch in the handle will drop into a notch cut into the quadrant and retain the lever in that position until released by the operator. The lever N in its upward motion carries with it the rod M and the rear end of the lever L, causing the shaft J to rock forward. This throws the toggle-leverage formed by the crank I and the link H out of a line of centers and by so doing swings the lower end of the shaft Z, with its boxing and worm, down, disengaging the worm Y from the teeth of the worm-wheel X, thus releasing the set shaft and leavingit free to rolate in either direction undercontrol of the throttle. The operator next pulls the throttlelever Q back, sliding the valve L forward. This movement will gradually close the port, admitting steam to the cylinder back of the cylinder-head H and reducing the pressure on that side, while at the same time a full portopening, and consequently a full pressure, is retained on the opposite side of the head. This pressure exerted between the front of the cylinder-head H and the piston G will force the piston to travel back and around through the cylinder at a speed exactly in ratio with the reduction of the pressure retained on the opposite side of the piston. Continuing in its travel, the valve will close the admission-port entirely and while retained in that position will retain the steam already in the cylinder, which being compressed between the piston G and the cylinder-head H forms a steam-cushion, against which the pressure on the opposite side of the piston acts and against which the piston will advance until the compression becomes equal to the pressure exerted. The valve being moved still farther will bring the exhaustport in the valve opposite the port I and allow the compressed steam to escape, thus allowing the piston to advance to the end of its stroke unimpeded. The valve working in this same manner when admitting steam to either side of the piston, it will be seen that the speed of the piston can be controlled throughout its entirestroke in either direction, working either against a reduced pressure, a compression which can be utilized at any time as a steam-cushion, or an atmospheric pressure, the steam having been eX- hausted, and in this way and by these means the standards may be moved in either direction through any part of their travel and at any speed desired by the operator. The standards havingbeen receded farenough from the saw, the operator throws the throttle-lever Q back to its central position and is ready to meet the shock occasioned by the log being thrown against. the standards by throwing the throttle-lever forward and admitting a sufficient pressure behind the piston to overcome the pressure exerted by the log. The loading of the log having been accomplished, the operator throws the lever N to its lowest position. This moves the worm Y back into mesh with the worm-wheel X, securely locking the set shaft and placing. its movements under the control of the lever E. This having been done, the machine is ready to repeat the operation of setting up the log.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

In a power set-works, the combination of head-block standards, a set shaft, gearing connecting said standards and set shaft, a

cylinder provided with abntlnents or heads, the head-block standards to travel through a shaft or rod provided with a piston, a throtthe entire length of their stroke, substantially tie-valve under the control of the operator as described.

arranged to admit pressure upon either or In testimony whereof We affix our signa- I5 5 both sides of the piston for controlling the tnres in presence of two Witnesses.

movement thereof in either direction, or for stopping the same at an intermediate point, 5 g f g gearing connecting said piston-shaft and said set shaft, the parts being so proportioned that 10 one movement of the piston in either direction from abutment to abutment will cause Witnesses:

E. O. EASTMAN, L. B. CHASE. 

